Contemplative Bible Reading

Jonah 3:7-8 (New Living Translation)

7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:

“No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence.

This is part of the (hi)story of Jonah and his reluctant evangelism to the city of Nineveh. After being thrown into the sea during a storm, being swallowed by a great fish, and … is there anything more and worse than that stuff? Anyways, Jonah goes to Nineveh, tells the people of the true creator God Jehovah, and the king gives the above decree.

“Fast and mourn,” was the decree. “Turn from evil ways,” it continues. And it ends with “stop all violence.”

This is repentance—a complete change of mind, change of heart, and change of action.

Note the last phrase about turning from violence. This great and prosperous city was noted for the violence of residents on one another. How could such lead to a great city? Well, consider the “great cities” of America today and the violence of residents on one another. And let’s not forget that such violence happens in the rural areas, too. It happens just about everywhere just about any century.

Pray earnestly to God. Please God, don’t give me what I deserve. Hmmm, same prayer I should pray every day. I’m not a violent, evil person, but I am a person and that means…